The Vietnamese diplomat stressed that in the context that the world is facing unprecedented challenges and crises like today, the Lord Buddha's philosophy is more meaningful than ever and has become a "guideline" to help people end suffering and bring peace to humanity.

He said that it is necessary to strengthen policy and action cooperation and coordination, promote the values of peace, inclusiveness, compassion and equanimity, contributing to making the nirvana a reality, thus creating a favorable environment for peace and development.

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Participants at the celebration, which is held virtually on May 13 to observe the International Day of Vesak

Representatives of countries and the U.N. all agreed that the Lord Buddha’s noble teachings and the Buddhist philosophy on love, harmony, empathy, sharing, tolerance, respect and mutual understanding are the fulcrum and source of spiritual strength for the international community to overcome challenges of hatred, war, conflict, pandemic, and climate change.

They underlined the need for countries to honor and popularize these overarching values, thus promoting their commitments and efforts to realize goals and principles of the U.N. Charter, towards building a better world for the mankind.

The event is held annually at the U.N. since 1999 when the General Assembly approved Resolution 54/115 on the celebration of the International Day of Vesak in recognition of the contribution of Buddhism - one of the oldest religions in the world - to humankind’s spiritual life, as well as to the efforts of the international community for peace, cooperation, harmony and development.

Source: VNA